Vegetable Growers News
July-August 2000, Vol. 7, No. 4
Brian A. Nault, Assistant Professor of Entomology
Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 33446 Research Dr.
Virginia Tech, Painter 23420
A special local needs label (FIFRA Section 24 [c]) has been granted by VDACS that now allows 4 lbs of acephate (Orthene 97) per acre per crop cycle to be used on bell pepper for European corn borer control. This important change doubles the amount of active ingredient that can be used on pepper and will provide more flexibility in application timing and improved control of corn borers in bell pepper. To use the new maximum amount of acephate on pepper, a new label specifying the change described above must be in possession of the user at the time of application. These labels should be obtained from the product distributor.
A maximum of 4 applications of acephate at the high recommended rate (1-1/3 lbs of product per acre) are permitted and should be used on pepper when European corn borer moths are most active and fruit is present. For the spring crop, these active periods are typically from mid June through early July and again during the first half of August. For the fall crop, the active periods are the first half of August and again in mid September. Because acephate provides excellent control for 7 days, even under high pressure, timing between consecutive applications of acephate should not be less than 7 days. More than 4 insecticide applications per crop cycle will be needed, so selection of other products that are effective for controlling corn borer will be required. Results from field studies conducted at the Eastern Shore AREC near Painter have indicated that spinosad (SpinTor 2SC), when timed properly and used at a rate of 6 ounces of product per acre, provided acceptable control.
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